Down On The Farm

Denis Phipps slugged a walk off Grand Slam HR with two outs in the bottom of the 9th to give the Bats the victory. Phipps went 2 for 5 with a HR. Mike Costanzo went 2 for 4 with a 2B and a BB. Mike Hessman went 1 for 3 with a 2B and 2 BB.

The lower minor leagues contain the bulk of the true prospects with a real chance to contribute at the major league level. These players must still prove themselves at the major league level or upper minor league level:

@RiverCity Redleg: The 40 man roster becomes an issue with a Phipps call up. Villareal had to be removed from the 40 man (no real issue with that move) in order to add Hamilton. If Phipps is added to the 40 man, Corky probably has to be removed and then the versatility to urilize Mesoraco and Hanigan as PH is lost.

Other than the 2011 season, Phipps been terrible. And he was 3-10 last year during his callup…sample size.

I still don’t understand DFA’ing Villarreal (though he passed through waivers) and keeping Lotzkar on the 40 man. One in still only 25, was on your big club this year and pitched at AAA, the other is a former #1 (2007) who is 23, has only pitched 100+ innings once, and was demoted this year from AA to A+.

And I can’t believe one of these other catchers (Ashley maybe) isn’t a better catcher, hitter than Corky….I do like having a 3rd catcher in September.